I'm new to the Arduino forum and very excited about getting back into electronics at this level. I'm a graduate (1991) of a well know electronics school in what was known at the time as an E.T degree. Having spent 20 years in the industry on the computer side of things, Systems Engineer, Integration (back in the day when we actually set DipSwitches), International Installation, Help Desk, Programming, CCNA.... bla, bla, bla.... it's time to jump back in the pool and get the old breadboards and O-scope out again.
It seems like forever! If you would be kind enough to indulge me in your suggestions and help regarding the following that would be very much appreciated.
Bascially;
What basic electonic parts are you using in your projects? I need to restock the arsenal of standardized parts and common values for those parts. One of the key reasons for this is that when ordering online the shipping charges sometimes exceeds the cost of the component! So, in order to be cost effective I would like to purchase the more common components that others are using and buy a reasonable quantity of them if you know what I mean. Are you generally stocking per project or are you a little like me in keeping and maintaning a larger inventory for your projects?
Hopefully I'm in the right portion of this forum for this type of advice. If not please advise.
For my hobby work with Arduino I try to keep on hand: 330, 470, 1K, 4.7K and 10K resistors, 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 uf caps, male and female pin headers (like the headers on an Uno or etc), 6mm tactile switches, some LEDs, logic level MOSFETS like 2N7000 (low current for level shifting, etc) and others for higher currents, small proto boards. Most other stuff I get per project, but usually order extra to have on hand.
Thank you. That's the kind of info I'm looking for to start back up. What one learns in class and then never applies in the 'real' world still amazes me. I'll be trying to cram Ohm's Law and Thevenin's Theorem back into non-volatile memory and playing with my toys in no time. To think I joked about designing an Intercranial Interface Device back in the day. :o
Welcome to the forum. Hope it comes back and you have lots of fun. Will the Intercranial Interface Device be open source? Cause it sounds like something that a lot of us could use.
What I've decided is the minimum needed to start learning about Arduino / Microcomputers, resistors, LEDs, breadboards, cables, servomotors, power FETS, DC motors, stepper motors, bluetooth etc. is in This Kit I designed a couple of years ago with collaboration from some university professors.
Now, that's just one opinion. YMMV, and if you mainly want to do electronics level stuff take a look at THIS PAGE and follow some datasheets etc.
These days you can do an awful lot on your desktop... Just get started and Do It.
I had already grabbed a startup kit when purchasing the Arduino. Your other page looks more toward what I'm thinking..... let me look at my inventory from the 90's. Are people still using the old ECG cross reference? It's been awhile.
If you can believe it I got my start in the early 80's with an Atari 800 and learned BASIC, ASSEMBLY and Machine Code (besides spending way too much time playing Star Raiders). In the late 80's I went back to school and did the ET thing and stayed in the computer industry. I still have every darn bit of reference material from those days.
I migrated from NJ and have found rural NC to be a great place. If you're not adverse to traveling some to get things done it's a great alternative to urban life. People here have been very helpful and understanding in mixing with some Yankees.
